Australia’s last Liberal government is hoping they can defy opinion polls and be returned in majority, as polls close in Tasmania.

The state Liberals are chasing a record fourth successive term, while Labor is aiming to end a decade in opposition.

Saturday’s election was held more than a year ahead of schedule after the Liberals were unable to resolve a minority government standoff with two cross bench independents.

Opinion polls point to a hung parliament, with the Liberals winning more seats than Labor but not the 18 of 35 required for majority.

The premier, Jeremy Rockliff, claimed the Liberals were “within a whisker” of majority, despite some polls showing his party’s primary vote percentage will be in the 30s.

“I’m particularly proud of our candidates, a great bunch of people from all walks of life,” Rockliff told reporters after voting in Sassafras.

Labor leader Rebecca White is having a third tilt at becoming premier after briefly stepping down from the role after her 2021 defeat.

Polls, which show more than a third of voters could snub the two major parties, suggest Labor will receive a first-preference percentage in the 20s.

White voted at Sorell, north-east of Hobart, alongside husband Rodney Dann and their two children.

“There is every chance that Tasmanians won’t get a final result (on Saturday night),” she said.

“It might take a number of days before we actually understand what the make up of the next government and parliament is.”

Labor leader Rebecca White and Liberal premier Jeremy Rockliff both say they are prepared to govern Tasmania in minority but have ruled out doing deals. Photograph: Rob Blakers/AAP

Final results may not be known until the week of 8 April because of Easter public holidays, a record 167 candidates and an expanded parliament.

The Liberals have accused Labor of breaching the state’s electoral act by installing signs at polling booths.

A Labor volunteer said the signs had been put up “across the state” on Friday night, not in breach of an election law which prohibits distributing signs anywhere on polling day.

Rockliff and White have said they’re prepared to govern in minority but have ruled out doing deals or trading policy positions.

The pair have exchanged barbs over whether a new $715m stadium in Hobart – a condition of Tasmania’s licence for an AFL club – is the right priority for the state.

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Rockliff, who signed the contract, backs the project but White has described it as a bad deal and says she wants to renegotiate despite the AFL not wanting to budge.

The two leaders may have to contend with a cross bench made up of the Greens, Jacqui Lambie Network candidates and independents.

“We’ve had 10 years of the Liberal government, we’ve only seen Tasmania get worse,” Lambie told reporters in Devonport.

Tasmania’s lower house is being restored from 25 to 35 members, with each of the state’s five electorates to elect seven MPs.

The election could herald the political return of conservative former senator Eric Abetz, who is running for the Liberals in Franklin.

More than 90,000 of Tasmania’s 408,000 registered voters cast their ballot early before polling day.

Tasmanian Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff wants to push the major parties for greater environmental action if the party ends up in a balance-of-power position.

“We want to fight hard for forests, for renters, for health and housing,” she said.

“Our message has been that change is not just necessary, it is possible. We hope that is reflected in the vote.”

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Guardian

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